New year’s first baby couldn’t wait

Baby Kenzie made a dramatic entrance when she became a Melbourne hospital’s first bub of the year, born in the front foyer.

Proud parents Alyssha and Brett with their new arrival. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Baby Kenzie knew how to make a “dramatic entrance” when she became the first bub to be born this year at the Mercy Hospital for Women – in the front foyer.

Alyssha Phillips from St Helena began to labour in the early hours of New Year’s Day, while she could still hear fireworks cracking outside.

Ms Phillips and husband Brett made their way to the Mercy in Heidelberg but moments after bursting through the glass front doors around 1.15am, she knew her little one could not wait any longer.

“I was lucky it was in the middle of the night, there was no one in the front foyer,” Ms Phillips said.

Little Kenzie came in quite a hurry, after keeping her parents waiting for nine days past her due date. Picture: Nicole Cleary

It was there that the Phillips were met by patient access and workforce co-ordinator Marina Keenan, a registered nurse and midwife, who heard the expectant mother labouring from her office.

Ms Keenan works in a mostly administrative role nowadays and has not delivered a baby in about two years, but she knew exactly what she needed to do.

“I had a quick look and I could see the head crowning,” Ms Keenan said.

“I said to Alyssha ‘we’re going to have your baby here’.”

Taking a seat on a nearby chair, Ms Phillips gave birth to Kenzie in about two minutes with Ms Keenan at the ready to deliver the baby.

“I’m on a high. It was just a lovely experience,” Ms Keenan said.

“It started my year off with a bang.”

Six nurses made it just in time to assist Ms Keenan, with the essentials in tow.

Baby Kenzie Phillips was born in this chair in the foyer. Picture: Nicole Cleary

The registered midwife described the birth as “beautiful, natural and easy”.

“I feel very privileged to have been a part of it.”

The parents are tickled pink with the arrival.

“We were excited to find out (the baby) was a girl. We’ve got two boys at home,” Ms Phillips said.

“She definitely made a dramatic entrance.”

The mum said after labouring for 11 hours when she gave birth to her first child, it was much easier this time around.

“I didn’t expect it to be that quick.”